Knockdown crate.



Patented May 7,1918.

2 SHEETS-*SHEET l attozneq 1. E. YOUNG.

' KNOCKDOWN CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 7. l9l6.

I. E. YOUNG.

KNOCKDOWN CRATE. APPucAnoN FILED DEcJQ 191s.

1,265,415. Patented 'May 7,1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

5 141mm* om,

r sr

il FFI@ KNoo'KDowN CRATE.

' Specicationof Letters Patent.

Patented May 7, 1918.

Application filed December 7, 1916. Serial No. 135,612.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, JAMES li.. YoUNG,ra citizen of the United St-ates, and resident of Minneapolis, in the county of Ottawa and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Knockdown Crates, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to shipping crates and has for its primary object the provision of a shipping crate capable of folding when not in use and havinga simple, strong and durable and cheap structure.

Another object of my invention is to provide a crate of the class described embodying a novel structure adapted to be folded to a compact form when not in use, means being provided for strengthening the crate when in set-up position and means for holding the parts securely when the same is in knock-down position.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the class described which may be formed of metal, or wood as desired the device embodying a structure permitting the application of screen wire or woven wire to the framework.

Other objects and advantages to be de,- rived from the use of my improved knockdown crate will appear from the following detail description and the claims, taken with an inspection of the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of a knockdown crate embodying the improvements of my invention, the same being shown in setup position; l y

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same;

Fig. 3 is atop plan view of the, crate in knock-down position; v

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the same; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of an improved form of strengthening and connecting means for the side and end walls.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, wherein similar characters of reference designate like and corresponding parts throughout the various views, 1 designates the base of my improved crate, the same being provided with side flanges 2 and end flanges 3 and 4, the flange 4 being slightly less in height than the flange 3, and both of said flanges beingoless in height than the fianges 2 for a purpose which will herein-` after appear.v i

The side and end portions of my improved crate are composed of side and end frames F, F and F. The side frames F are hinged as at 5 to the flanges 2 and are, at times, adapted to be folded inwardly onto the base 1. The side frames F are provided with intermediate strengthening standards 6 fora purpose which will hereinafter appear.

The end frames F and F are hingedly mounted as at 7 and 8 onthe end flanges 3 and 4, respectively, said end frames being foldable inwardly onto the base 1.

The top of my improved crate is composed of a pair of frame sections S and S hingedly associated with the end frames F and F by means of the hinges 9 and 10. The free end portions 11 and 12 of the frame sections S and S are arranged in abutting relation over an intermediate partition 13, said partition 13 being hingedly connected as at 14 with the base 1, and adapted to be folded thereupon at times. In order to maintain the frame sections S and S rigidly in connection with the partition 13, I provide a pair of clamps 15 having downturned ends 16 for engagement with the inner marginal edges of the end portions 11 and 12 of said sections, a pair of screw members 17 carried by the partition 13 being extended through said clamping members 15 and wing nuts 18 carried by said screws.

When the crate is in folded or knockdown position it is necessary that all of the sections be firmly held against -dislodgment For this purposeIZ provide eye members 19 carried by the partition 13 adjacent the hinge-14, .screw members 30being carried by saideyes and freely movable thereabout, said screw members having wing nuts 21 on the free ends thereof.

The screw members 20 and wing nuts 21 are adapted to be .engaged with the top portions of the side frames F when the latter are in folded position whereby to retain the remaining sections in folded position. When the side and end frames are in set-up position I provide means for rigidly associating the' same, said means including al rightangular member 24 hingedly carried on a staple 25 arranged in the side frame F, the free end portion of said right-angular member 24 being engaged over a Staple 26 car,-

ried the. adacentend frame, aA locking pin 27 being engaged with the staple for retaining the brace member 24 in position.

Of course, it is to be-understoo'd' that-fthe sides, ends, and top frame sectionsv of my improved crate are to be provided wi'thwire mesh Iscreen or woven wire in the event that the device is 'to :be used as a poultry coop. I desire to `lay partieularstress upon the fact that the structure of my improved crate 4maybe composed of A`wood 1or metal las desir-ed, f nonev of the parts 'or' their 4association depending for eifectiveness uponvthe 'use of 'either w--ood IorV metal alone.

lVhenitris-desired to set up my improved crate thei'side frames F are moved from, folded position lto a vertical position,;,the end frames fmay vnow-be r`placed in set-up position, the top sections being carried thereby. course,-the intermediate partition isarranged asbest shown` in Figs. l and 2 `and the clamping "members 1'5 yare thenrengaged with the abutting ends offtfhe top fra-me sections-'S ands. In view of tlieactf that' one of1 the lreinforcing members @Ads placed yat each corner of the crate, when in set-up position, it will be lseen-that fany "lateral movement ofthe parts or lost motion-otsaid parts is prevented. V`W'hen the crate `isiol-ded or in knoclsdown'position 'the end `fra-mes an'd top Isection andthe partitionl I3 are retained in 'folded vposition 'by -means of the side frames F as bestfshown in Fig. 3. Thus it `will 'be seen that I have'provided an improved and novel type of folding crate which-embodies asimple yet strong and durable structure which tends 'tovlcheapen the manu'factureoi1 suchf devices.

vI desire to 'further point out that in the provision ofthe varioustypeof ianges the end'frame and'top sections -F tand S are permitted to *fold overthev end lfra1nes"F" and S and owing to--the greater'height'of the'sideflanges''the side frames-F larepermitted toold over both the endframesF and F" as well as overithe top'sections. "It willalso be `noted that rattling ofthe side .frames and endframesfis prevented by the provision ofthe reinforcing members 24.

From the above descriptlon taken in convnectionA with the-accompanying drawings, it

`'be had, and while I have shown land described my invention as embodying a specic structure, I desire that it be understood that such changes :may `be `made "in -said structure as do =rnot depart romrt'he spirit and? s'cope'f of. thefinvention as claimed.

' aving thus fully described my invention, what :I-"clafim.asnewy and desire to secure by Letters-Eaten@ is-:-`

1. -Inia collapsible crate, abase'havingfside and end flanges, side and end frames hingedly @mounted f on said fa'nges, top frames hingedly .associated 'with said -end iframes, air intermediate partition :hingedly mounted onsaid-base, said-z'partitionrend, top andl side frames being collapsible Iin respective superposedfre'latien, 'and :swingable: screw -members earriedfbyithe partition and-engageable wilthithe'side frames to lock the criatein collapsed position.

2. .In aV collapsible'crate, abase Ihaving' side yandfend flanges-side and end -frames yhingedly 1 mounted 1 \on xsaid flan-ges, top iframes hingedly associated withl said kend lframes, an Fintermediate partition hingedly= mounted onlsaid base, 'said-partition end,top and side f frames I' being collapsible Iin v 'superposed relation, spaced 'transversely -a-lining eye members carried -by-the partition, and LeX- tending upwardly from `the upper side thereof whenfthe samev isfcollapsed, swingablefscrewunenibers mountedon said eyes and `adapted to fplrojectthrough the outer sides of' Athe side frames when in' collapsed position, andA |win-gY 'nuts- `engagea'ble lwith the diiierent portions of the screwmembers to clamp the side Vframesin position to securely Copies 'ot -th'hpltetmy- 'befvobta'ine'dtfor Tren-cents each;byifaddrcssingithe Gommissionerfof#Patents,

' "Wahington, D. C. 

